TonyRo wrote on 09/11/18 at 02:06:07:


Looks great, thanks! I will have to look at all of it later, but just from the early parts I realized I haven't taken 4...Bb4+ 5.Nc3 seriously at all, though I really should. The 4.g3 Nimzo-Indian is topical right now, with Caruana and So playing it recently.

I actually planned to avoid this line entirely as Black by playing 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 instead of ...d5 and ...dxc4, but if I combine that with 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ it could come right back and bite me.

TonyRo wrote on 09/11/18 at 02:06:07:


Interesting, I thought that that line was one of Black's best choices.

Do you think that 4...Ab4+ 5. Ad2 Ad6 is activer for Black than other lines ¿ For me the entire 4...Ae7 complex and a few of the 4...Ab4+ 5. Ad2 Ae7 lines can easily lead to slow sufferring without counterplay even if no obvious mistakes are made.

The Ruy López was called "Spanish torture", but honestly the Catalán torture is much worse 

MNb wrote on 09/09/18 at 06:49:59:


Well, it is Catalán after all 

MNb wrote on 09/09/18 at 06:49:59:


idem 

If Black can get in one of the breaks ...c5 or ...e5 it should be okay.

That is why I keep switching systems..

GMTonyKosten wrote on 09/09/18 at 08:24:26:


Even at GM level, you feel that Catalán is not fun for Black ¿

I might be going back to playing the Slav soon, even though giving up playing the Nimzo just because of the Catalán would be sad...

kylemeister wrote on 09/08/18 at 21:12:13:

Obviously I don't know either, so thanks for the warning.

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 09/08/18 at 21:46:05:

Definitely too passive to my taste.

Leon_Trotsky wrote on 09/08/18 at 21:46:05:

Which poses the eternal question: what about Bc8 ?

MNb wrote on 09/08/18 at 20:57:28:


I don't know but there is this recent thing ...

https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/7/index.htm#cat
https://en.chessbase.com/post/banikas-wins-paleochora-open-2018

ErictheRed wrote on 09/07/18 at 16:50:09:


I could have a look, but I did notice that Marin recommends 4. Cf3 in this line...but for White! 

https://www.modern-chess.com/en/chess-databases/database=33

I remember now that I was trying to avoid the Benoni as White after 3. g3 c5, but I am not so knowledgeable with 4. Cf3.

IsaVulpes wrote on 09/07/18 at 22:56:21:


As Black I would much rather check first with 4...Ab4+ 5. Ad2 Ae7, because when White can play Cbd2 fast and get in e4, I much prefer that for White.

IsaVulpes wrote on 09/07/18 at 22:56:21:


I play this as White, following mostly Awrukh's GM Repertoire 1A. My feeling is that should Black manage to equalise the game, which I find to be quite a pain in general, even in a equal/almost equal position, it is easier to try to win with White than with Black. And if Black makes an inaccuracy it can lead to a sufferring.

I do not play 7. Ce5 in that game you showed, just 7. Dc2. I think the latter is better, 7. Ce5 gives Black quite some activity for the pawn there.

I remember more than decade ago I was 2150 or something and played the Catalan for first time, getting squeezed in the 4...Ae7 main line and thought damn, I would give up playing the Nimzo if every White player played 3. g3 instead.

I do not want to give up the Nimzo again just because of 3. g3 

fjd wrote on 09/06/18 at 23:32:55:



mn is correct; this is not a gambit, and in my database it has a plus score for Black.  It's why I almost never play 4.Nf3 in that position as White.  You should really take a closer look at it, if you're fine playing the Benoni, I don't think that this should discourage you in the slightest.  In fact I think that it should encourage you.   

Notice that after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 cd 5.Nxd4 d5 White can't play 6.cd? because after simply 6...Qxd5 the rook is hanging on h1.  White has to play 6.Bg2 e5 and now either 7.Nf3 d4 or 7.Nc2 d4, both of which look pretty fun for Black to me.